Keep the game safe for everyone
High school basketball season may have just started, but I have already sat through many, many games this year since the elementary teams start so early.
Basketball is a wonderful sport, and the people of Warren County love their hoops. The gyms are packed every night with kids and parents cheering on their school squads. The concession stands are busy selling popcorn and cokes, and everybody is having a good time.
Now herein lies a small problem. It seems people are having such a good time, that many don’t even realize there’s a basketball game going on.
And to some extent, that’s OK. There’s nothing wrong with socializing and having a good time at a basketball game — except when it starts to cross the line of interfering with the game and everyone’s safety.
People who are true basketball fans and not there just for the food and social events, realize it’s totally wrong to stand next to the court and carry on a 30-minute conversation with your friends. Now there are several reasons why this should never happen, especially in elementary basketball.
First, most of these gyms are small and have very little room between the court and the walls or seats. With so little room, people could get knocked down and injured when a player is trying to save a ball from going out-of-bounds or just running down the court.
The referees have their hands full, and now somehow they have to watch the game and keep an eye out for fans while their running up and down the court. I have even seen people walk across the floor during the game, causing players or officials to fall.
One of the biggest problems is when the teams are trying to play under the basket and fans walk by like there’s not even a game going on. People, if you’re on your way to the bathroom or concession stand it’s not going to kill you to wait until the teams are on the other end of the floor before you walk under the basket. I can tell you at the most you might be inconvenienced for no more than a minute.
Here’s one of the big no-no’s — don’t walk by while a team is shooting a foul shot. It’s very distracting for the shooter and could be harmful to your health.
Let’s say you just stroll on by when a player puts up a shot from the foul line. You have your hands full with popcorn, hotdogs and a coke. Your head is turned because your trying not to be rude as your friend brings you up-to-date on all the local gossip.
The ball completely misses the basket and pops you upside the head. Your five-dollar trip to the concession stand ends up on the floor, and all over you and your friend. You quickly turn to see where the ball came from, like it’s a shock you were hit by a basketball at a basketball game and then you run into the referee, knocking him down, but it wasn’t your fault.
Now after all this, wouldn’t it have been a lot easier to wait until the teams had traveled to the other end of the court?
Just remembering a few simple rules, mainly a little common sense, could save you a lot of embarrassment and it can make the game safer for all.
Basketball games are great places to socialize with your friends and it gets us through these long winter nights. But just remember, basketball comes first.
Pay attention to what’s going on and everyone will have a good time.